Turnout in Crimea Breakaway Referendum Reaches 64%

Turnout in Crimea's referendum reached 64 % by 3pm local time, according to referendum commission chief Mikhail Malyshev.

Malyshev, as cited by CNN, informed that no provocations at polling stations have been reported so far.

Residents of Crimea vote Sunday in a referendum on whether to split from Ukraine and join Russia.

Polling stations close at 8pm local time.

Some 1.5 million voters are eligible to take part in the ballot and the preliminary results are due late on Sunday.

The referendum is deemed illegitimate by the international community but Russia has insisted it will recognize the outcome of the vote.

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